We have the knowledge, skill and technical ability to carry out the safe removal and disposal of your bentonite waste and drilling by-products whilst also delivering a top-quality and cost-effective service.
During your drilling activities, you will want to have the by-products removed quickly and efficiently. Waste drilling muds may contain a variety of toxic and harmful substances that are damaging to the environment, humans and animals.
What is Drilling Mud?
Drilling mud refers to the liquid drilling mixture used in oil, gas and geothermal drilling operations. The main purpose of drilling mud is to help with drilling boreholes into the earth. Drilling mud has many beneficial uses, including:
- Cooling and lubricating the drill bit: The fluid cools the drill bit and reduces friction. This helps prevent overheating and excessive wear.
- Carrying cuttings to the surface: As the drill bit cuts through rock, the mud carries the rock fragments (or cuttings) to the surface, preventing them from accumulating in the wellbore.
- Maintaining wellbore stability: Drilling mud applies hydrostatic pressure to the walls of the wellbore, which helps prevent collapse or caving in of the wall. It also prevents fluids from other underground formations from entering the well.
- Controlling pressure: The mud helps to balance downhole pressures to avoid dangerous situations like blowouts, where oil or gas could escape uncontrollably.
- Sealing porous formations: If the wellbore passes through porous rock formations, the mud helps seal these zones to prevent fluid loss.
How Can We Remove Your Bentonite Waste?
Our powerful vacuum tankers and experienced teams will ensure we have the necessary equipment on hand to support your project; whether it is pumping waste from deep underground or cleaning debris to make underground chambers fit for purpose again.
We operate our bentonite and drilling muds waste collection service across London and the South, contact us today if you would like to hear more about what we offer.
The 3 Main Types of Drilling Muds
Water Based Drilling Muds
The most commonly used type of drilling mud, due to water based being the cheapest and most environmentally friendly. Water based drilling muds are used more for jobs that involve looking for oil as they provide clearer information for engineers and geologists studying the samples produced by the drilling.
Oil Based Drilling Muds
They are recommended for more challenging environments such as shale and high temperature holes that would usually cause water based mud to evaporate, making the oil based drilling mud the better option. Although it is a more expensive option and have more potential hazards to the environment.
Pneumatic or Air Drilling Muds
In suitable conditions, for example drilling through solid, dry rock, compressed air or nitrogen can be more affordable and eco-friendly option compared to water-based drilling muds. However, if the drill hits water or oil, air may struggle to bring these fluids to the surface. Additionally, air drilling can cause the borehole to become unstable or collapse if the surrounding rock information lacks sufficient strength to withstand the pressure.
Drilling Mud Waste Management
At CountyClean Group, we specialise in the safe removal and disposal of bentonite waste and drilling mud from construction and drilling projects. Our powerful vacuum tankers and experienced team are capable of handling complex waste removal operations, including pumping the waste from deep underground chambers and cleaning hard to reach areas.
Our Drilling Mud Removal Services Include:
- Safe removal and transportation of bentonite and drilling mud
- Pumping waste from underground chambers
- Full compliance with the Environment Agency regulations
- Round-the-clock availability for emergency callouts
- Minimal downtime for your site
Why Choose CountyClean Group?
- Specialist Equipment: Our high-powered vacuum tankers and pumping systems can effectively handle the toughest bentonite and drilling mud removal tasks, minimising downtime and disruption to your site.
- Fully Accredited and Compliant: We are fully accredited and licensed waste carriers, we will help protect your duty of care by transporting the collected waste to one of a number of licensed treatment facilities. Here the waste can be safely disposed of, this legal requirement is part of our everyday activity.
- 24/7 Emergency Response: We understand that some situations require immediate action. That’s why we operate an our of hours emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Experienced Team: With extensive experience in waste management and environmental services, we offer bespoke solutions tailored to the specific needs of your project. We offer free site visits and no obligation quotes, contact us today for more information.